Support for Families and Caregivers
Parent Partners: Parent Partners are parents of children with special healthcare needs who have lived experience and professional training to support other caregivers on their journey. Families can connect with parent partners virtually if they need resources or emotional support during this time. If you would like to talk to a Parent Partner please send an email to: Connect@montanaparentpartners.org
Circle of Parents: Circle of Parents is a caregiver led support group that provides a friendly, supportive environment to parents and caregivers. During Shelter in Place they will be offering virtual meetings. For more information, visit the Circle of Parents website, email at hstenson@butte4-cs.orgor call
Hands & Voices: Hands & Voices is a non-profit, parent-driven organization dedicated to supporting families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. For more information, visit the Hands &Voices Website, email mthandsandvoices@gmail.com, or call at
Montana Family to Family : The Montana Family to Family Health Information Center (MT F2F) is led by experienced Montana families. Family members and caregivers can call the F2F team to get help finding resources, locating providers, or forging a supportive connection with a family who has faced a similar situation. For more information, visit the F2F Facebook page, email montanaf2f@umontana.eduor call at
The MT F2F Center received the 2020 Cares Act Telehealth Award and has been granted the opportunity to allow families to borrow laptops, tablets, headsets with microphones and hot spots (for homes with spotty internet access). Families will be able to borrow these devices so they can better participate in therapies and medical appointments remotely. In exchange for borrowing these items, we ask families caring for someone with a disability to participate in a brief survey. There are seven questions, and no identifying information is required apart from state and zip code. The questions all pertain to issues families may encounter in accessing telehealth (I.E. don’t have a device, don’t have internet, don’t understand how to use a device or ask for a telehealth appointment). It only takes 3-4 minutes to take the survey. To take the survey, contact us. To borrow equipment, please visit the MonTECH website for more information.
MonTECH: is Montana's free assistive technology (AT) and adaptive equipment loan program. The program houses equipment Montana families can borrow, and provides free training on that equipment (in person or online). For more information, visit the MonTECH website, or Facebook page, email at montech@mso.umt.eduor call
The Bright App : The Bright App can help you find a mental health provider for you or your child. You can search by specialty, location, gender, and accepted insurance.
YBGRConnect: Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch has created a simple and easy way to assist families in finding the right services needed, provide crisis management and family support, and provide fast access to mental health professionals. Simply call or text
Telework Assistance Grants Available for Montanans with Disabilities: DPHHS has Telework Assistance Grants of up to $1,000 per individual now available through Disability Employment and Transitions (DET) Division. This funding will go towards purchasing assistive technology equipment to assist Montanans with disabilities in maintaining telework opportunities. If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity please call
No Kid Hungry Summer Meal Text Line: Montana Families can find free summer meals via text message. This service is free, and open to anyone. A parent, grandparent or caregiver can simply text the word “FOOD” to 877-877 and the system prompts them to provide their address or zip code, which is used to provide the location and service times of up to three nearby summer meals sites. To find detailed information visit the Summer Meal website .
Financial Resilience Center: National Disability Institute (NDI) is offering resources to help those with disabilities and chronic health conditions navigate financially during COVID-19. These resources including free financial wellness training, and free professional financial counseling.
AUCD Webinars : The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) has created a 4-part webinar series that reviews disability inclusion as it relates to the COVID-19 outbreak with a variety of tips and information for families.
Comprehensive COVID 19 Resource List: This is a comprehensive resource list that was built by the team at Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research at UMass Medical School. This list was created to support youth, young adults, families, colleges, educators, employers and their supporters.
Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health: This foundation has created a page dedicated to COVID 19 that contains information for families, caregivers, state agencies, and advocates for children with special healthcare needs. Resources are updated regularly.
Child Care Connections: This page has a variety of great resources for families, children, and child care providers to stay safe, healthy, financially sound during COVID-19. There are also a number of activities and books for children to stay busy and educate during this time.
Teaching Through the Digital Divide: Common Sense Media has long tracked the homework gap and has now become a learning gap, leaving the disconnected behind. This is just a research link to show how the lack of internet access is affecting student learning. Educators and parents have shared info on how this research is affecting them across the country. See Latest Statistics and Educator Stories for statistics and stories by state. Learn more about the Digital Divide on Common Sense Media.
Child Mind Institute: The Child Mind Institute offers telehealth evaluations and treatment for ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorders and learning disorders. They also offer coping advice and tools for parents and children during this time.
Zero to Five: Zero to 5 offers a list of Montana and community specific comprehensive resources to support children, families, and providers during this time. These resources include free internet/phone provider resources for Montana families, and support during school closures such as free lunches, or remote activities. For more information visit the Zero to Five websiteor call
STEPS online Guides to Public Assistance: Information and advice on everything from affordable housing and utility assistance to food security and childcare help. Learn how and where to apply and how to get the help when you and your family need it. There are resources on how to find child care assistance, food security, affordable housing and utility bill assistance and how the programs work. Go to the STEPS website for more information on how to apply for resources.
Support for Families and Caregivers who are Struggling
This is a distressing time for many of us and may be particularly difficult for people in caregiving roles and those with mental health concerns. There is support available 24/7. Please reach out if you are feeling hopeless or suicidal, or you need help supporting a loved one.
Disaster Distress Helpline :
The Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline : 800-273-TALK (8255) or text “MT” to 741741
Montana Warmline:
The warmline is not a crisis line. It is a peer support line for those looking for support in recovery.
Taking care of your emotional health: It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a disaster. Everyone reacts differently, and your own feelings will change over time. Notice and accept how you feel. Taking care of your emotional health during an emergency will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family. Self-care during an emergency will help your long-term healing.
Boys Town National Hotline for Adults and Youth :
Spanish-speaking counselors and translation services for more than 100 languages also are available 24 hours a day. The speech- and hearing-impaired can contact us at our email address: hotline@boystown.org.
Montana Crisis Recovery : Free COVID-19 Support
